Page 9 of Unsanctioned (Devilish #2)

The sensation of cold and warm touching his spine slowly dragged Waylon from his dreams. He chuckled as Audor nipped at his skin, as if trying to tickle him.

Audor marched cold pieces up his back, as if walking toy soldiers.

Waylon couldn’t stop smiling. He had never known this much happiness.

Then Audor’s hands appeared in front of his face as he draped himself over Waylon’s body. Waylon gasped at the items Audor held.

“My beauty deserves pretty things. I found these too many years ago to count. All this time, I haven’t known what I saved them for. Now I do. They’re the rocks I wanted for my mate.”

Waylon’s hands shook as he took the stones. They were more than rocks. Waylon could smell them. The scent of nature lived in his blood. They were gemstones. Like genuine gems mined from stone. “Holy shit. These are likely priceless.”

Audor kissed his shoulder. “No. You’re priceless. I’m sure these have a dollar amount that could be assigned to them.”

“Not to me. They’re a gift from my mate.” Part of Waylon wanted to say he could never accept such a huge gift, especially one given so casually, but they were mated. Everything that was Waylon’s was Audor’s.

“And everything that is mine, is yours,” Audor said, finishing his thoughts.

“Speaking of which. We need to decide where we’ll live.

Your place is more convenient for your work.

I just bought this place and have been fixing up the garage.

But that doesn’t matter as much to me as you do if you’d rather stay where—”

The earth shook, cutting off Audor’s words.

He scrambled to ensure every inch of Waylon was covered from any danger.

The moment passed as quickly as it happened, but all Audor’s alarm bells were clanging.

He leapt from the bed almost as quickly as Waylon.

In a flash, Audor wore jeans and had a battle ax in each hand. “I must go to Frost. He’s my duty.”

Waylon pressed a quick kiss to Audor’s lips and turned wolf. My pack needs me . Don’t close your mind to me.

Audor gave him a sharp nod. “I love you, wolf.” He dissipated, landing on Frost’s front lawn at the same time as every guard assigned to Frost. They each held various weapons.

Thankfully, dawn hadn’t quite broken. He had woken Waylon early, hoping to steal some time with him before Waylon went to work.

His powers weren’t cut by the sun yet. They would be soon and Audor had no idea what danger they faced.

Something unnatural had happened, though.

It was a chill down his spine. Gemini was full leopard as he burst from the door.

What’s happened? Gemini’s thoughts were as loud as a shout.

Audor ran for the door. “I don’t know yet, but it’s best we form a tight circle around Frost until we receive word things are clear.” They poured inside.

Frost stood in the middle of the living room, wearing nothing but pajama pants. He held a cup of coffee and looked too exhausted to care if the apocalypse had just begun.

“You know earthquakes are common in this area, right?”

Leif closed the door.

Fen began checking windows. “Earthquakes don’t feel like that. That’s what it feels like when a demon horde breaks the veil.”

Goddamn it. Audor knew the cold sensation down his spine felt familiar.

It had been a long time since he felt this way.

His gaze met Leif’s. They had been raised together.

They had been best friends since they were old enough to hunt together.

Leif had also been at his side during the demon wars.

They had seen what demons would do to this town.

It’s a demon breach. Please be careful.

He felt the phantom sensation of Waylon caressing his mind, as if comforting him. I’m checking the town now. If I get the faintest scent of evil, you’ll be the first to know.

“My mate is checking the town. He’ll let us know what he finds.”

“Mate? It had better be Waylon, or I’ll flip this table.”

Audor flashed Frost a smile at the words. He was so damnably calm, it was catching. Plus, Waylon’s name had been mentioned. That was all Audor ever needed.

“Vampires and Weres can’t be mates,” Fen said, staring out the back door. His gaze kept moving in every direction.

Leif’s eyes were locked on Audor’s neck.

Audor stood at Gemini’s side, keeping himself bodily between Frost and the door. “This vampire was blessed with a Were mate.”

All eyes turned his way, as if that news trumped all danger.

Leif was the first to turn away. “Now isn’t the time.”

A shot of pain hit Audor in the chest. Until that moment, he had forgotten Leif had once been madly in love with a bear.

The guy had been huge and cuddly. Funny and protective.

It had ended badly for all the same reasons he had almost lost Waylon.

Until that moment, he hadn’t realized how much of that Leif still carried with him.

There was no denying his friend’s pain. It sat on his chest.

What’s happening? I can feel your hurt.

Audor smiled. His mind was no longer his alone. I’m fine, gorgeous. How are things going on your end?

There’s nothing. Randall and I have found a few lingering scents of sulfur, but nothing. If demons broke the veil, they didn’t stay here. I’ll keep checking until I’ve seen every pack member.

Be careful. They can possess people. Check everyone’s scent.

I’ve got your back.

Audor smiled. He knew he did. “Waylon says he’s found a few lingering scents of sulfur, but nothing more. It’s as if any demon that broke the veil vanished as quickly as it appeared.”

“Fuck.” Fen’s curse summed things up nicely. “They could be possessing anyone. The sun is rising, and demons aren’t trapped by any such nonsense. We’ll be sitting ducks soon.”

A pair of demons appeared from Frost and Gemini’s bedroom, as if they lived there. Thankfully, they were the good ones. Lire and Kallous were on Jonathan’s team.

Gemini plopped down at Frost’s feet, as if he knew he could relax now, but he didn’t give up a defensive post of his mate.

Frost sighed. “We have to come up with some kind of system. People just stepping through mirrors as they please is becoming an issue.”

Lire flashed a smile Frost’s way. “It’s no wonder Jonathan likes you.” He focused on Audor. His eyes were ever changing, as if they couldn’t pick a color. “We’ve come to help your mate. We can move freely in the sun and we can spot demon entrances better than anyone here.”

Audor nodded. “Thank you. It’s killing me to stay here, but this is my place.”

Lire dipped his chin. “I understand. No harm will come to your wolf.”

Leif stared out the front door.

Fen stared out the back.

Both men ignored everyone while anger practically vibrated from them.

Audor pinched a spot between his eyes. Lire and Kallous are here to help.

More hands make less work.

Audor smiled. The air lightened. His mate was fine. They had help. Everything would be okay.

Waylon was fucking exhausted by the time darkness fell again and the entire town had been searched. He let the hot water pour down from his shower, washing away the dirt of the run. He felt Audor coming. Waylon closed his eyes and turned his chin up, letting the water hit his face.

“Damn. That’s sexy. Do you need someone to wash your back?”

Waylon hid a smile. He turned, ensuring Audor saw the erection he sported just from the thought of Audor showering with him. “You could do that, or you could start packing bags so we can go home.”

He saw the way Audor fought hope. “You’re willing to live with me?”

Waylon got it. Audor had just bought his house and wanted to make it a home.

Waylon wasn’t attached to his place. He was an animal.

There had been many years he had lived in the woods.

If Audor wanted to be the one who gave Waylon a real home, Waylon could live with that.

His mate's happiness meant more to him than an extra few minutes' drive to work. “You’re my other half. Of course, I want to live with you. You love your house, and I love you. That’s all that matters.”

Audor stepped inside the shower fully dressed. “I think I have time to get you off, pack your bags, and have you in bed in time to get your full eight before work tomorrow.”

Waylon smiled so hard, his face hurt. He dragged Audor against him and took the kiss he was dying to have. Audor’s hands were everywhere.

I’m so in love with you.

The words brushed Waylon’s brain in the most loving of touches. His eyes burned and his throat swelled. Audor was a miracle so huge, Waylon had never dared to dream so big.

Waylon killed the shower. “Take me home.”

With a single thought, Audor pulled Waylon through space and into the home they would now share.

Waylon stripped the soaked clothes from Audor. “You know I love you more than anything, right?”

“Yes.” The breathless whisper from Audor was barely audible as Waylon kissed his way down Audor’s neck.

“Try harder.”

At his demand, Audor spoke louder. “Yes.”

“Good.” He spun Audor and shoved. Waylon bent Audor over and face down on the bed. “This is going to feel a lot like hate fucking.”

Audor moaned and squirmed like he couldn’t wait. “Yes. I want that.”

Waylon knew he did. Audor liked it rough. Since Waylon was an alpha used to dominating, Audor was perfect for him. Waylon used the bare minimum of lube before he pushed his way inside Audor. He didn’t go easy. He thrust hard, lifting Audor’s feet off the floor from the power of it.

Audor clutched the blankets. “More.”

Waylon had everything he needed. He eased out a hair and thrust again, doing his damnedest to make Audor feel as amazing as possible.

Their shared pleasure was unlike anything he had ever known.

He wasn’t used to feeling everything Audor did mixed with his own desire.

It was overwhelming. He didn’t know if he would ever get used to it, but—for now—he couldn’t focus on anything else.

That meant holding the wolf back was nearly impossible.

Parts of his body shifted without his permission.

He kept trying to stop it. Waylon’s claws accidentally cut through Audor’s skin.

A deep moan vibrated from Audor as the wounds healed.

Fuck. He was just flawless in every way.

Too perfect. Waylon didn’t know how to make sex last when he couldn’t even control his claws.

Audor suddenly scratched at the blankets and tried scrambling away. “Oh, fuck. Oh my goddess. What are you doing to me?”

Waylon panicked and dove into Audor’s thoughts, trying to find out what he had done wrong. All he found was ecstasy. Audor’s pleasure damn near bordered on pain. He didn’t know if he should pull away from it or lean into it. Waylon made the choice for him. He fucked him harder.

“Holy shit. What the hell?” More scratching and trying to crawl away. “You’re—Jesus. It’s—goddamn.” A loud cry tore from Audor.

Waylon couldn’t see or hear. The orgasm Audor had robbed him of his senses.

It had Waylon humping the waves and babbling while pumping Audor full of cum.

He fucking throbbed and Waylon hated when people used that description, but he got it now.

Sex with his mate was mind blowing. He was afraid of how addicted he could become.

Waylon wanted to chain Audor to the bed and fuck him until they both died.

Then he tried to pull out so he could nuzzle his baby, and he couldn’t.

Audor moaned.

A nervous laugh escaped Waylon as he realized why Audor had been trying to get away from him. “Oh no.”

“Fuck. Please stop moving. You’re still hitting at just the right angle, and I can’t.”

“I’m stuck.”

Audor went completely still. Waylon heard him take a breath and hold it. He felt Audor in his mind, finding out for himself what Waylon meant. A loud laugh burst from Audor. He shook with it, making things worse.

“Damn, Audor. If you don’t stop, we’ll be here all night.”

Audor wiggled his ass, making Waylon gasp as tiny aftershocks crawled up his dick, which had shifted.

“You know, I’ve been alive hundreds of years, and this is the first time I’ve knotted. I hope this is a new thing you plan to continue.”

Waylon’s embarrassment fled. A possessive growl vibrated in his throat. It was full wolf. Mine . He was on the verge of a complete shift. Audor’s total acceptance of him had truly brought out the alpha. He wanted to lick and nuzzle. Waylon needed to prove he was worthy.

“Oh, gorgeous. You’re more than worthy. You’re every fucking thing to me.”

Waylon dick finally slipped from Audor’s ass.

He wasted no time pushing Audor all the way into bed so he could join him to cuddle.

He curled his large frame around Audor and licked—like a mother grooming her babies.

If Audor thought it was weird, he didn’t complain.

Waylon purposely didn’t listen to his thoughts.

He didn’t want his feelings hurt if Audor didn’t really want this much of the wolf.

A happy hum caressed his ears. Audor scratched his head. “Damn. That feels good. Don’t stop.”

Waylon sneaked a peek at Audor’s thoughts, trying to see if he only humored him.

All he saw was happiness and love. Audor saw the moment exactly as Waylon intended: as an act of love, and he wanted it.

Waylon nuzzled Audor’s neck and kept his face hidden.

He didn’t want Audor to see the tears that filled his eyes.

Audor was the miracle he shouldn’t have gotten.

He couldn’t be more humbled and thankful. Odin had a slave for life.